In celebrationof the 60thanniversary of the diplomatic relations between China and France, promote the exchange of poetry and culture between the two countries, and to enhance the translation and research of Chinese and French literature, the “Night of Sino-French Poetry: Symposium on Studies of the Poetry of Giovanni Dotoli” was jointly hosted by the Institute of French Language and Culture of the School of International Studies, the Platform of French-German Literature and Thought Research of Zhejiang University, and Hangzhou Chunzhen Shiji Book Baron the evening of November 10, 2023. Giovanni Dotoli, a renowned bilingual poet of French and Italian, professor of French literature and former vice president of University of Bari in Italy was invited to the Symposiumto share his stories of writing, studying and translating French poetry with his new book Epic(L’Épopée). Poets, translators and researchers of French literature, along with editors from publishing houses in Hangzhou gathered together to share their poems, feelings about French poetry, and their visions for theexchange and publication of Sino-French poetry.
The Guest of honor, Professor Giovanni Dotoli, has been awarded the Commander of the Palmes Académiques, the Officer of the National Order of Merit, and the Grand Prize of the Académie Française in the academic circles of France. He is a guest professor at the University of Chicago, École Normale Supérieure in Paris, University of Cagliari, and Artois University (Arras campus). He is also a member of the Italian International Writers Association andthe Management Committee of the French International Writers Association. He has founded and edited series of books and journals. As a bilingual poet of French and Italian, he has published five collections of poetry, including Moi, la vie, a three-volume collection of French poetryand Rose di cima, a two-volume collection of Italian poetry. His works have been translated into other languages and have won multiple international awards, including the Molinello Prize, the European Sanguore Prize, and the Dante Prize.
The symposium was moderated by Professor ZHAO Jia, Vice Dean, and YU Mengyang, a researcher of “One Hundred Talents Program”from School of International Studies, Zhejiang University, served as the interpreter. Professor ZHAO vividly showcased Professor Dotoli’s rich and outstanding poetical image with a series of photographs. She introduced the L’Épopéeby Professor Dotoli and the recent Chinese translation.In a collection of 30 poems, the anthology sings high praise of nature, humanity, and poetry in reverence for the primal force of the universe. The illustrations in the collection, created by Michele Damiani, a renowned Italian painter, are a perfect interpretation of the poems, bringing the pleasure of reading. The anthology was translated into Chinese by Dr. ZHAO Lingcen, a young translator and lecturer specializing in Frenchfrom Zhejiang University.
Professor Dotoli expressed his gratitude to the organizers and Chinese poets, stating that this event could help promote poetry cooperation between China and France. He emphasized that poetry plays a crucial role in the world today. Against the current complex situation, he asserted that only poetry has the power to unite all of humanity, and only poetry could answer the questions of human existence. Poetry has an undeniable responsibility for the history and society. Poets, therefore, bear the great mission of interpreting the world. Professor Dotoli’s poetry collection,L’Épopée, expresseshis understanding of human journey and future. Furthermore, Professor Dotoli lauded this event, considering it a far-sighted exchange for better Sino-French poetry exchange and for spreading Chinese poetry globally.
In three themed sessions thereafter, poets, translators, and publishers expressed their insights on Professor Dotoli’s poetry, French poetry creation, and Sino-French poetry exchange.
Around the first theme Creation and Translation of Contemporary French Poetry, SHU Cai, a poet and French literature translator,assertedthat there are two lines in the development of French poetry. One, with representative poet of François Villon, is characterized by wildness, while the other is the academic poets, represented by La Pléiade, who pursue loftiness and beauty. SHU Cai believed that Dotoli belongs to the latter category with his pursuit of lofty ideals. Tu Guowen, a poet, writer, and critic,summed up seven commonalities among European poets, including personalized creativity, introspective spirit, concern for life and social issues, nationalistic sentiments, philosophical significance, emphasis on language, and the convergence of the senses. He also provided a detailed analysis of Dotoli’s poetry. ZHAO Lingcen,a young translator of French literature, discussed the manifestation of estrangement and foreignness in the translation of Dotoli’s works, using Madame Bovary and Don Quixote as examples. She emphasized that although these two literary classics were not directly referenced in Dotoli’s works, a shared fascination with language and a pursuit of living elsewhere are evident in his works.
In the second session, several renowned poets were invited to share their experiences in reading French poetry. LIANG Xiaoming, a poet, first-class national writer, and deputy director of the Poetry Creation Committee of Zhejiang Writers Association, shared the impact of French poetry on Chinese poetry, emphasizing the inspiration and nourishment gained from French poetry. WANG Ziliang, a poet and professor at Zhejiang Gongshang University, delved into the relationship between Dotoli’s poetry and philosophy. He regarded his exploration in poetry as a journey of the inner self, as well as an interpretation of philosophy. He took poetry as another self in philosophy. Besides, poet YU Gang focused on the semi-circular structure of Dotoli’s poetry collection, echoing the shape of the Aegean Sea.
The third sessionwas around The Publication and Exchange of Sino-French Poetry. TIAN Jie, a poet and editor-in-chief of Zhejiang Poets, discussed how poetry journals help promote the exchange of Sino-French literature. Following this, LUO Yi, a poet and editor-in-chief of Starry River, explored how poetry can be better disseminated through various media. Additionally, ZHANG Chen, deputy director and general manager of Zhejiang University Press, expressed the willingness of Zhejiang University Press to cooperate and support Sino-French cultural exchange.
This symposium showcased the charm of poetry and bridged the spiritual gap between Chinese and French poets, fostering the exchange of Sino-French poetry and culture, thus laying a solid foundation for future cooperation.
Institute of French Language and Culture
Text: YUAN Zhiyin
Photos: Chunzhen Shiji Book Bar
Translated by HANZhuojun and CHEN Fanjia, Proofread by XU Xueying
